The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the sole national accreditation body for the United Kingdom. UKAS is recognised by government, to assess against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.

Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates the competence, impartiality and performance capability of these evaluators. In short, UKAS ‘checks the checkers’. UKAS is a non-profit-distributing private company, limited by guarantee. UKAS is independent of Government.

UKAS is appointed as the national accreditation body by Accreditation Regulations 2009 (SI No 3155/2009) and the EU Regulation (EC) 765/2008. UKAS operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government, through the Secretary of State for Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

UKAS is licensed by BEIS to use and confer the national accreditation symbols (formerly national accreditation marks) which symbolise Government recognition of the accreditation process.

UKAS accreditation provides an assurance of the competence, impartiality and integrity of conformity assessment bodies. UKAS accredited certification, testing, inspection and calibration reduces the need for suppliers to be assessed by each of their customers.

UKAS' involvement in international groups such as EA, IAF and ILAC, provides for mutual recognition. This reduces the need for multiple assessments of suppliers, and as a consequence helps to reduce barriers to trade for organisations who have UKAS accreditation.

It is therefore BEIS policy to recommend the use of UKAS accredited conformity assessment services whenever this is an option.

UKAS is a non-profit-distributing private company, limited by guarantee. UKAS is self-financing and charges fees to conformity assessment bodies to cover operational costs and other expenditure. BEIS sponsors UKAS and provides funding to undertake public interest activities (ie non-fee earning activities) in representing the UK’s interests in the global accreditation system.

Their Vision

‘Everything that should be underpinned by UKAS accreditation, is’

Their Mission

To deliver confidence to Government, Business and the public by providing a world class accreditation service that:

• supports the global competitiveness of the UK;
• meets stakeholders needs by providing innovative, robust and effective solutions;
• is fully accessible,  delivers customer service excellence and provides added value.
• UKAS will be impartial, agile and proactive in underpinning the national quality infrastructure, enabling the UK economy to thrive.